Chapter 147: School

I called the employees to entrust them with the school design.

Lee Doa, the clear-eyed madwoman famous for ‘Designer of [Scream Course], Die!’

Uh Byungwook, the gloomy agitator famous for ‘Ending Gives Chills.’

Marco, the exploration enthusiast famous for ‘This is it!’

I gathered these three.

You think they’re not suitable as school designers?

Originally, humans grow better when handled a bit roughly.

Half of it is a joke, and the other half is a combination to inspire motivation to learn.

The more interest one has in a field, the better their memory becomes.

Someone who can’t memorize English words no matter what can recall the names and descriptions of game items perfectly.

Someone who gave up on math at trigonometry can easily solve logic puzzles.

Someone who can’t comprehend Korean language texts can memorize song lyrics and sing them with emotion.

But making someone feel interested in something is quite difficult.

Sustaining that interest is even harder.

Interest is the opposite of frustration, so it easily evaporates when faced with difficulties.

Also, often people feel interest in just one aspect of a field rather than the entire subject.

So, the deeper you go, the more likely you are to lose interest.

In such cases, goals and rewards are necessary.

There must be a conviction that overcoming hardships and striving toward a goal will yield a reward at the end.

This is Marco’s area of expertise.

However, the human brain has a peculiar aspect.

There are things that just won’t stick in memory no matter what.

While other things are safely stored in the brain, some oddly just pass through without sticking.

For such cases, there are about two methods to use.

One is to create a story.

For example, let’s say you need to buy cucumber, carrot, apple, salt, and zero-calorie cola.

Rather than memorizing the five items separately.

“Dad, why am I orange instead of green?”

“You’ve figured it out… Actually, you’re not a cucumber but a carrot.”

“Huh, how did this happen?”

“The day I met an apple. I shouldn’t have mixed salt into zero-calorie cola and drunk it…”

Memorizing by weaving a story like this tends to stick in memory.

Uh Byungwook is good at this.

The other method is something shocking.

Strong events are bound to be etched into memory.

This part is Lee Doa’s specialty.

With this, it’s proven that these three are suitable figures for school design.

Under my supervision, the three first conceptualized a school for children.

For now, the educational facility at Slime Land can sufficiently teach early Awakened children, but it will be different in the future.

If we gather all the early Awakened from around the world, it will be on a scale to operate elementary, middle, and high schools.

Naturally, we must prepare for it.

“How about a tree that grows every time you get a correct answer? And when you get all the answers right, it bears fruit.”

Uh Byungwook proposed an idea like a fairy tale.

“They’ll work hard for the reward.”

“It would also be good to give the same type of reward across various fields. That way, they can focus on their specialty.”

For a while, the conversation revolved around that idea.

“We can’t completely eliminate competition. Whether we like it or not, competition is inevitable while living in reality.”

“I agree. But a system where only the winner takes all isn’t acceptable. If only the winner gets everything, there won’t be any cooperation.”

“And people might start enjoying others’ misfortune.”

Lee Doa brought up a discussion about the right way to compete.

Based on that, the conversation continued.

“Memories of adventure stay in the heart forever. Let’s prepare several hands-on learning sites that teach lessons.”

As usual, Marco wanted to teach children the fun of exploration.

As the conversation went on, the form of the school gradually took shape.

They were all kind to the children.

“For more detailed matters, consult with education experts. Next, think about a college for Awakened as the theme.”

As they began designing a school for regular Awakened, the atmosphere among the three changed.

“For people with rigid minds, intense experiences are needed to soften them up a bit.”

“There are often times when their pride needs to be broken.”

“Wandering in a situation where the answer isn’t visible would be a good lesson.”

The three analyze the reactions of people visiting Slime Land and improve existing and new amusement rides as their job.

They had plenty of opportunities to analyze how foolish ordinary people can act.

They’ve also seen multiple times how much dumber those people become when they awaken.

They’ve seen how arrogant new Awakened are when they come to the training ground.

The initial stage of awakening is when Awakened cause the most problems.

Power suddenly given without any effort.

They haven’t experienced the tragedy that power brings.

Nor have they experienced the responsibility they must bear upon awakening; they are just chicks.

At first, they are enveloped in a feeling they can do anything, but soon they taste the disappointment of realizing they’re not as great as they imagined.

Quite a few subtly express their frustration, saying they drew a losing ticket.

There are also people who get swept away by their own power.

They need to be handled a bit roughly.

The three conceptualized a fiery freshman welcome party.

Up to this point, it was an easy discussion.

“This is difficult.”

“Indeed.”

“It’s natural since it’s the first time.”

Gathering ordinary people and Awakened in one place to teach them together.

It was quite a challenging task.

Dividing departments might solve it, but would ordinary people and Awakened get along if we did that?

The three thought not.

Even in regular schools, there’s a wall between athletes and regular students.

Just putting them in the same place doesn’t solve the issue.

While sharing their concerns, Uh Byungwook came up with an idea.

“Civil and military officials unite when there’s an external enemy.”

“Ah, I understand what you mean.”

Marco nodded, and Lee Doa smiled.

“We can become that enemy, right?”

“If trials that require uniting frequently occur, harmony will naturally form.”

The three looked at me.

“That sounds fun.”

The idea developed rapidly.

A school overflowing with Monster Slime.

To survive, you have to hunt that Slime. For this, a Hunter’s power is needed.

To dismantle and cook it, knowledge from various fields is necessary. For this, the power of regular students would be needed.

Besides this, various ideas to torment the students emerged.

Like a cafeteria where the menu changes depending on the ingredients and test paper.

Or a monster that brings a cold wave if not defeated.

Or a facility that stops if the problem isn’t solved within a certain time.

It looks like it’s going to be a school full of excitement.

***

AlchemySlime Company announced its ongoing marine projects.

They presented a nautical map showing the areas of dead land, the status of processing, and the regions under AlchemySlime Company’s rights.

They also conveyed that they are normalizing the marine environment by removing pollutants that humanity has discharged into the ocean so far.

-Purifying the ocean alone? Is this even possible?

└If it’s Yeonseul, it’s possible.

└If Yeonseul can do it, it’s possible.

└Yeonseul… possible!

└What’s with this guy?

└Realistically, it doesn’t make sense.

└Still, it’s much better than doing nothing.

└Better in what way?

The Earth is 70% ocean.

A single company has stepped up to purify that vast area.

While Alchemy Slime is indeed remarkable, is this realistically feasible?

People were skeptical.

Amidst this, a nonprofit organization released photos of a trash island in the Pacific Ocean.

There was also an article comparing and analyzing its previous scale and its current scale.

-(Link) Check out this article. It’s about the current state of the trash island.

└There was something like that in the ocean? Is this not photoshopped?

└Pay some attention to the environment and live responsibly.

└It’s only been a few days, and it’s already reduced that much?

└Yeonseul’s waste processing ability has been famous for a while. Many countries have introduced Glutton Slime to landfills.

└I wish they’d deal with human trash too.

Even just volunteering for trash cleanup improves a person’s image.

But this isn’t just simple trash cleanup; it’s dealing with the disaster humanity has left on Earth.

They weren’t just talking about the necessity or making empty promises; they were actually achieving concrete results.

Alchemy Slime’s popularity began to skyrocket.

-Praise Yeonseul. Yeonseul is a god who descended from the heavens to save the Earth.

└Ramen.

└Ramen.

└Ramen.

-I criticized Yeonseul for being obsessed with money.

└Repent.

└I’m sorry.

-Those expensive Slimes being sold these days. Isn’t it to fund this purification project?

└That… makes sense!

The reason Alchemy Slime suddenly took a different approach was because they needed money for ocean purification.

This rumor quickly gained traction.

[Is this why Alchemy Slime sold premium Slimes?]

[(Speculation) Alchemy Slime: “I’ll do what needs to be done, even if I get criticized.”]

[Buying a Slime makes the ocean a little cleaner.]

Slime sales increased.

In particular, orders for Frame Slime and Smartphone Slime surged drastically.

That wasn’t all.

Sales of Car Slime also increased.

The trigger was content planning by the world’s top W-tuber.

[Recruiting people to ride Car Slime and race across the ocean together.]

The plan was to ride Car Slime and tour the locations where trash islands used to be.

This plan sparked interest among people with plenty of money and time.

Car Slime rarely had situations where its abilities could be fully utilized.

It can fly into the sky when the road is blocked, but doing that in a city would bring the police down on you.

How often do you get the chance to charge into a river or the sea?

Due to its low practicality compared to its price, people who hesitated to buy Car Slime placed orders.

Driving a car across the ocean for a world tour.

It was an experience worth investing money and time in.

Money gathered at Slime Savings Bank.

This money was distributed to many people in the form of loans.

Alchemy Slime’s support base became even stronger.

***

There are rumors misunderstanding why I sold premium Slimes.

Thanks to that, sales have increased a lot.

The number of people tied to me through debt has also grown.

Not only has my image improved, but the perception that people shouldn’t interfere with what I’m doing has also spread.

However, it’s not all good.

Minor conflicts have arisen regarding fisheries.

As I scattered Food Slime (Fish) over the area with Earth Revival Slime, a lot of fish gathered there.

It means it’s a prime spot where you can catch a large quantity of fish just by casting a net.

Just as sparrows can’t pass by a mill without stopping.

Boats that fished in the open sea couldn’t just pass by such a spot.

The nets they use are so fine that they seem determined to catch even the smallest fry.

Of course, I prepared for such a situation.

Earth Revival Slime extended its tentacles and tore their nets apart.

If this kind of thing repeats several times, the idiots casting nets in my area will decrease.

Fish learn not to go to dangerous areas, so why can’t humans?

They’ll naturally be weeded out.

Nets aren’t free.

The time and fuel costs spent coming out to this distant sea can’t be ignored either.

They’re probably also bound by delivery contracts or something similar.

Missing the mark once or twice is risky, but if it happens more than that, they’ll obviously go bankrupt.

Many people curse me, asking by what right I do this.

By what right, you ask?

By the right of the one who processed the dead land, no different from cancer cells, and scattered food to gather the fish.

How can they be so shameless, coveting a table someone else set?

What’s even more shameless?

[AlchemySlime Company must stop its excessive interference in fisheries.]

An article like this was published.

It wasn’t a statement from a government official but an article from a radical media group.

However, the fact that such an article was published without interference suggests the government’s intentions are mixed in.

Freedom of the press?

Since when has that been so well protected?

It hasn’t been long since I exercised my rights, and already interference is coming in.

Even though we signed a treaty, they still act like this.

As time passes, more explicit criticism will likely begin.

The next thing I plan to do will face even stronger opposition.

If I have to go around signing treaties one by one, it’ll take even longer than when I signed the treaty for the Undersea Dungeon.

I might even fail to sign a treaty altogether.

If that happens, I’ll just do it anyway.

Because this is the right thing to do, and it’s something that must be done.

If they can’t understand that this is something that must be done, then I have no choice but to show them with results.

“Gongsooni. You first.”

Gongsooni firmly rooted itself into the earth beneath the sea.

It still lacks the mass to fully fill the deepest part, but that too is just a matter of time.

“Road. Open the path.”

The center of Gongsooni Island opened, and Road stretched toward the sky.

It pierced through the stratosphere, passed the mesosphere, and extended all the way beyond the atmosphere.

With the cleaning of the sea mostly done, next is the turn to clean up space.